Welding bench

[rus_geek]

HCJ -- For welding, the ground is a system ground provided by a cable and clamp from the welder, rather than an earth ground, where you would need continuity to the floor/ground.

-rus-

 

[Ford tractor]

make holders for grinders so you can access them easily.

have some hooks to hold your stinger so you can easily set it down between welds/repositioning.

Not sure how long you want the final table to be, but I wish i had incorporated a grated section into mine for flame cutting.

Ah yes, the grinder or as I call them "welding erasers" -- much used around here!

Sounds like you've got the makings for a great table. You could plan in an idea for quick attach for a vice and bench grinder. You could also make the legs "telescopic" where one piece of pipe or tubing slides inside the other and have holes in it for putting pins in to so you can adjust the height. Also, I'd plan on getting some 1/2" fine threaded set screws to screw into the holes in the top while you weren't using them to keep spatter and such out of the threads.:thumbsup:

The threaded holes are a regular pattern of 7 x 15 or a hundred holes. Lots of screws needed for that! Still, it would probably be smart to keep the threads usable as I can see it could be handy to be able to bolt stuff down.

 

[gauthier]

wd40 sprayed on top of your welding table?

 

[weldingisfun]

Dumb question, but if you use casters with rubber or synthetic wheels, does this interfer with the ground? Or does there need to be metal contact with the floor?

Use metal casters. Titan Casters 3 in. Sintered Iron Plate Caster Swivel - 3520449 | Tractor Supply Company The others are too light will not hold the weight.

 

[gregkabob]

Fordtractor,

Yes it's a big table and I don't plan on making mine that big but it's a starting point on the construction of the table and when I was researching tables it's the first that I saw with the area for plasmsa cutting and that caught my eye.

 

[crazyal]

One think I like about a welding table is you can tack things to it while working on them or weld a jig to it to align things if making more than one of the same thing. Anything you put on it will interfere with the welding process. I would just leave it bare unless it's going to see water or be left outdoors.

 

[jayste]

One think I like about a welding table is you can tack things to it while working on them or weld a jig to it to align things if making more than one of the same thing. Anything you put on it will interfere with the welding process. I would just leave it bare unless it's going to see water or be left outdoors.

I agree with all who recommend leaving the top bare. It's almost a must to weld something to the top of it or even the side of the top while your fabricating. After you're done cut or break it loose and grind the weld smooth. While you won't always need to do this it is nice to have the option.:thumbsup:

 

[jayste]

Here's a few shots of my welding/cutting table. A while back I wanted to attach my vice but didn't want to permantly attach it. I was concerned that I might want to utilize the whole top without any permanent fixtures in the way. I ended up making a hinged plate to mount the vice on. It's not painted yet and may never be at this rate.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Jay, I like how your mount for the vise allows it to hang vertical out of the way when not in use. Keeps it handy without being an obsticle to bang your knee into. I may steal your design and mount mine the same way.

 

[rjmack]

18"x48"x13/4" sounds like a pretty heavy piece. i would consider building it lower rather higher if for no other reason than to reduce the likelihood of knocking it over. something that heavy would do some pretty serious damage when it hit the floor.

a lot of tables are 1/2" or 3/4" plate (i bought one already fabbed up out of 1/2") the problem with them is that welding the legs directiy to the plate causes warpage and you end up with a table top that is not flat... this is a real pita if you are going to be using the table for fabrication.

when i finally get around to building a larger table, i'll probably go with 3/4" plate and lightly stitch weld a strongback (6" channel iron, tube, etc) to the bottom of the table 6" or 8" back from the outside edge and then weld the legs to that. hopefully i will end up with a table top that is nice and flat.:thumbsup: